If you're a warehouse manager, you know the risks that come with elevated work. Whether retrieving inventory from a high rack or operating an order picker on a mezzanine, the threat of a serious fall is constantly present. Falls from heights are not just a top reason for warehouse accidents; they are among the most severe, often resulting in work stoppages, costly claims, and, most importantly, long-term consequences for workers. Yet, with the right precautions and technology, these incidents are avoidable.

The Reality of Falls from Heights

Falls from raised platforms, such as lift trucks, elevated platforms, and mezzanines account for a significant share of warehouse injuries. OSHA mandates fall protection at elevations of four feet or more in general industry settings, but simply following the rules doesn’t ensure safety. In practice, even seasoned workers can become careless or rushed, leading to neglecting to connect safety equipment. The outcome can be sobering: a single miscalculation at height can result in significant bodily harm or fatalities.

Warehouses are dynamic environments. Employees frequently need to reach stock stored high above the floor, using equipment like order pickers or turret trucks. These machines are vital to efficient warehouse work, but they also create special safety challenges. A momentary lapse, not attaching a lanyard or not fastening a harness properly, can have devastating effects.

Traditional Fall Protection: Strengths and Shortcomings

In the past, warehouses have employed a mix of guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems to protect workers at height. Guardrails and barriers are useful for fixed elevated areas, but they cannot protect workers on order pickers. Personal fall arrest systems such as harnesses and lanyards are the go to solution for workers using elevated trucks. Unfortunately, these systems rely on reliable use by staff. Even the best-trained employee can forget to tether in a moment of distraction, especially during peak periods or under tight deadlines.

Supervisors and safety managers have long wrestled with the challenge of human error. Spot checks and routine audits are useful, but they don't provide total assurance, especially in large or multi-shift operations.

The Raymond iWarehouse Integrated Tether System: Closing the Compliance Gap

Raymond’s iWarehouse Integrated Tether System represents a major advancement in warehouse safety for warehouses where work at height is routine. In contrast to traditional systems that depend only on workers following procedures, the Integrated Tether System uses advanced wireless systems to make certain that safety rules are met each time someone operates a lift truck.

Here's what happens: The system requires the employee to secure a tether to their harness before the vehicle will move at full capacity or allow the forks to elevate. If the operator is not properly tethered, the system instantly triggers a series of increasing notifications including audible alarms, visual warnings on the iMONITOR display, and, if unaddressed, reducing speed and disabling elevation features. This multi-layered approach makes sure that workers cannot work around required protocols, even unintentionally.

The Integrated Tether System is now available for Raymond’s Orderpicker models (5300, 5400, 5500, 5600) and Swing-Reach trucks (9600, 9700), making it a versatile choice for many facilities. Besides instant monitoring, the system supplies managers with compliance tracking and reporting, enabling specific safety education and proactive safety management.

Take the Next Step Toward Fall Protection

Elevated falls remain as a top safety concern for modern warehouses, but they are also one of the most easily mitigated. By adding modern technology such as the Integrated Tether System to your safety program, you can achieve real safety improvements, protecting your team, your output, and your sense of security.

If you’re ready to take a proactive approach to fall protection, contact Raymond West. Our team can review your safety needs, install advanced safety systems, and build a safer, more resilient operation—one where every worker at height returns safely to the ground.

Raymond West's Fresno facility serves much of the Central Valley, including Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Visalia, Tulare, Lindsay, Hanford, Lemoore, Los Banos, Santa Nella, Dos Palos, Firebaugh, Kettleman City, Coalinga, Avenal, Mendota, Kerman, San Joaquin, and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Fresno Material Handling Equipment Supplier

2935 S Elm Ave #101
Fresno, CA 93706
(559) 264-7500